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ODNR Division of Wildlife - Fishing - Trout Stockings
ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Herring Gull

 Herring Gull

herring gull
Photo by Jim McCormac
 One of the world's most widely distributed gulls, the herring gull can be found throughout the Northern hemisphere. In Ohio, it is most common along Lake Erie. Small numbers can be found elsewhere, usually in flocks of ring-billed gulls.


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Herring Gull
Larus argentatus

At-a-Glance

• Incubation: 24-28 days

• Clutch Size: 2-3 eggs

• Young Fledge: 35 days after hatching

• Typical Foods: fish, aquatic invertebrates, carrion, plant matter, etc.
Description
This species, like other large gulls, takes four years to obtain adult plumage, so young birds look quite different from adults. Juveniles are brown while adults are white with light gray backs and wings. The bill is yellow with a red spot on the lower mandible.

Habitat and Habits
The herring gull is an omnivore, meaning they eat nearly anything. They are often found around landfills and dumps, lakes, big rivers and Lake Erie harbors. The call is a loud, clear bugling yelp that rises above the cries of ring-billed gulls, and they often give a softer three or four note eh-eh-eh-eh call.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
Gulls nest in colonies. Nests are constructed out of seaweed or grass and placed on the ground or higher on a cliff.